Arriving in Lincoln in 1920 by chance and staying by choice, Oran Wilfred Hudson became far more than the town barber—he became part of its daily rhythm. Trained in Boston and known for his skill with everything from Feather Cuts to Flattops, Oran cut hair for mill workers, ministers, summer visitors, and future political figures, all while presiding over a shop that doubled as Lincoln’s unofficial town hall. With prices measured in cents and stories traded freely, his chair was a place where paper was “made” as fast as at the mill, where no comic books were allowed, and where neighbors gathered to talk life, work, and the town they shared. “English Feathers, Please, No Clippers!” captures a vanished era of small-town craftsmanship, personality, and community—seen through the eyes of a man who liked people and never forgot their stories.

In the Summer ’88 issue of North Country Times, “Roger Harrington Personifies Lincoln’s Blending of Old and New” captures the remarkable transformation of Lincoln’s mill complex into the Millfront Marketplace—and the unique role of Roger Harrington in preserving its past. As Lincoln Mill Associates redeveloped the dormant paper mills into shops, arts spaces, and community amenities, Harrington—born and raised in Lincoln and a mill worker since 1957—became the bridge between eras. His deep knowledge of the mill’s equipment, traditions, and culture guided the repurposing of historic tools, machinery, and even railroad artifacts into functional and decorative features throughout the Marketplace. The article paints Harrington not only as a longtime steward of the old Franconia Paper Company, but also as the living historian ensuring that Lincoln’s industrial heritage remains visible and meaningful amid the town’s modern revitalization.